Block for stretching coats



UNITE STATES FATE FFI@ SAMUEL M. PERKINS, OF SPRINGFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

BLOCK FOR STRETCI-IING COATS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 9,154, dated July 27, 1852.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. PERKINS, of Springfield, Bradford county,State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Article or Machinefor Stretching or Blocking Felt or Seamless Coats, &c.; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full description of the same. l

The nature of my invention consists 1n shaping or modeling a block ofwood, iron or other substance in the form of a bust of a man, havingarms att-ached thereto, and cut in two halves lengthwise and joinedtogether at their back edges by hinges, so that, the arms may be thrownback, for putting on the block the felt coat, when in its wet state, andwhen its edges are secured by the pins or hooks on the front edges ofthe model, the coat may be stretched to the shape of the model when itis closed and held by a hook or catch secured to one half of the modeland attaching to a pin on the opposite half. But to describe myinvention more particularly I will proceed to refer to the accompanyingdrawings the same letters in the several drawings referring to thel sameparts wherever they occur.

Figure l: is a representation of the machine or stretcher, as appearingwhen partially thrown open for putting the seamless coat on it. Fig. 2,is a representation of the same when closed, showing the hinge at thethroat, arms and pins for attaching the edges of the seamless coat to.Fig. 3, is a back view of the machine, showing the upper and lowerhinges and arms. Fig. 4L, is a plan view of the machine, exhibiting theupper hinge, throat shoulders and arms, and pins. Fig. 5, is a profileview of one side of the machine. Fig. 6, is a representation of the baseor lower end of the machine showing the spring latch for holding the twohalves of the machine together, and arms and pins, for securing the.front edges of the coat thereto, for holding it when stretching.

Letter A, A, are the two halves of the machine, or apparatus. These maybe made of wood, iron or any other suitable material, and size to fitthe various sizes for which coats are to be made. To each of thesehalves is attached an arm B, B. These arms are made with a` slight bendat the elbows, so that when the coat shrinks or dries, the sleeve willhave a natural curve o-f the arm of the wearer, like that given by thecut of the tailor. In the drawings they are represented as beingpermanently attached to the body of the machine, but it is contemplatedto make them adjustable or to work with hinges, in some garments, andtherefore deem any variation in the mode of attaching the arms to thebody Substantially the same as I have represented as the mode of makingthis part of the machine.

Letters C, C, are two hinges for attaching the two halves of the machinetogether. These may be attached at any convenient point, so long as therequisite strength is obtained and uniformity of action. Letters D, D,are two pins, inserted in the inner face o-f one of the halves of themachine; and E, E, are two holes in the inner face of the opposite halfof the machine, and into which, the pins enter, when the two halves areclosed, for the purpose of holding them rmly and steadily in contact.

Letter F, is a spring` catch of latch, se cured by a screw (f2) toi oneof the halves of the machine at its bottom or lower end, and extendingacross the face of the opposite half, so as tohook or catch over a pinor stud G, placed therein, for the purpose of holding the two halves ofthe machine together by its own action, while the operator is engaged indressing up and closing the machine, and thereby facilitating theoperation of blocking the garment.v

Letters H, I-I &c., are two rows of hooks or pins, secured in the frontedges of the two halves of the machine. These hooks are sharpened attheir points, so as to hook in the felt or cloth, and to hold it whilebew ing stretched on the machine. The number of these pins are notmaterial, as they may be more or less used according to the nature ofthe garment to be blocked.

The operation of this machine is: When the article has been properlyfulled or shrunken, the machine is opened, so as to throw the arms backfar enough to slip the coat sleeves on them. IVhen this is done thecoat, which is in a wet state, is then worked up by the hand so as toallow the front edges to be hooked on the hooks down the front of themachine. It is then gradually shut, taking care to work the folds orwrinkles out of it, and not tear the hooks out, until it is quite closedand the spring hook on the lower end of the machine catches on the pinor stud and holds it closed till it is dried, and thereby giving to thecoat or vestor other garment Worked on it, the perfeet shape of the bodyof the wearer, and at the saine time allowing of itsr being dressed orfinished by napping it or otherwise as may be required.

manent or adjustable arms attached thereto, and hooks for holding theedges of the Cloth While stretching, spring hook or catch and pin forholding the halves of the machine together, and steadying pins in theface of the two halves, in combination therewith substantially as setforth,

SAMUEL M. PERKINS.

Witnesses:

N. M. CARNOOHAN, W. MORGAN.

